Ryan Reynolds admitted he was “embarrassed” to play Rob McElhenney’s Deadpool and Wolverine cameo appearance, especially after he flew all the way to London to shoot the sequence.

Not only is McElhenney a close friend of the actor, but he is also co-owner of the Wrexham football club, which makes the decision even more difficult. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Alum was originally supposed to appear as a soldier of the Time Variance Authority in the record-breaking Marvel film.

“A word to my ‘dear’ friend @robmcelhenney. Rob was kind enough to make a cameo in #DeadpoolAndWolverine that will hopefully live on in the digital extras,” Reynold wrote on Instagram on Friday. “When editing a film, they say you ‘sometimes have to kill your darlings’. And with a heavy heart (and major outside interference) I had to kill off a darling with this cameo.”

The Free guy Star said they ultimately cut the scene because “the sequence didn’t work the way we originally constructed it.”

“Rob was the only reason it stayed on the air as long as it did because even under a TVA mask and helmet you can feel him glowing with a raw and almost infinite reservoir of talent, writerly wit and ‘I create successful TV shows’ attitude,” he said. “Don’t even get me started on Wrexham. I wouldn’t know a love like @wrexham_afc if it wasn’t for Rob McElhenney.”

Reynolds went on to explain that “expectations” can sometimes be the most stressful part of making a film, but it makes it easier when you have loved ones like McElhenney to lean on.

“I loved making this movie, but it wasn’t without stress. There were a lot of expectations – and I’m pretty sure the best-written villain in film history is ‘Expectation,'” he added in his Instagram post. “And when you’re doing stressful stuff, it’s good to have friends around. And while I’m mortified that he flew all the way to London for a cameo that wasn’t meant to be, I’m grateful that my friend was on set with me. When I see Rob, my heart rate slows down and my nervous system stops screaming at me. He’s there for people. And he’s there for me.”

“Even as he pleaded for his life before Alioth ripped his unsuspecting body into the air, swallowed him whole, and eventually digested him and turned him into Alioth poop,” Reynolds concluded. “RIP TVA soldier.”

Although McElhenney did not make it into the final version of Deadpool and WolverineThe film still featured many surprising cameos, including Jennifer Garner’s revival as Elektra and Wesley Snipes’ return as Blade. Channing Tatum also plays Gambit and Blake Lively plays Lady Deadpool.